Chicken Breed Focus - Australorp

[Maiahr]

Hi, I would like to ask two questions and I apologize if these have already been discussed. 1. What's the difference between Australorp and Black Orpington? 2. At what age do they reach their full size? Thank you

 

[getaclue]

Differences: Size, eye color, foot color, shape. Heritage BA's attain most of their size by the time they're about 14 months old. They do fill out a little more after that, but not a lot.

 

[Maiahr]

Differences: Size, eye color, foot color, shape. Heritage BA's attain most of their size by the time they're about 14 months old. They do fill out a little more after that, but not a lot.

Thank you. I guess I need to read more as everything that I have read so far identifies them as the same. For example, they both have black foot. So Australorps are slow growing then?

 

[getaclue]

BO's and Australorps are large, and a bit on the slow growing side. There is a difference between hatchery stock, and heritage stock from a breeder. Heritage stock is slower to grow, take longer to lay, but are usually larger, and lay longer. BTW, Australorps have slate gray legs, and pink to pinkish white on the bottoms of their feet.

 

[Member 482121]

One of my Australorp roosters, Star

 

[SJMike]

Question for all you experts out there... my aussie chicks are 3wks old today. Below are 3 of the 4 of them. Chick 1 (photos 1a & 1b) is the biggest of the four and seems to have a bit more comb development compared to chicks #2 & 3 - despite hatching a day later than them

.
What do you think, early signs of a roo?
(or is it still too early to tell?)

 

[getaclue]

It's still way to early to tell.

 

[SJMike]

It's still way to early to tell.

Thanks getaclue!

 

[Diannastarr]

It's still way to early to tell.

 

[getaclue]

SJMike, Please post pics at various intervals. Those are some very interesting looking Australorps.